Implement



(No Model.) 7

L. H.. POST.

LAGB MAKING IMPLEMENT. i No. 369,'075. Patented A ug. 30, 1,887.

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UNITED STATES PATI-:NT OFFICE.

L. HUN T POST, OF PRINOETON, NEW JERSEY.

LAcE-MAKING IMPLEMENT.

PECl-ICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 369,075, dated August 30, 1887.

Application filed April 18, 1887. Serial No. 235.242. (No model.)

To a/ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I,-L. HUNIL` POST, a citizen of the United States, residing at Prnceton, in the connty of Mercer and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and usefnl Improvements in Lace- Making Devices; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to lace-making implements; and it consists in the construction and combination of parts, which will be more fully hereinafter described, and pointed out in the claims.

The object of my invention is to provide a simple and inexpensive devioe for faoilitating the manufacture of lace and material of a like nature. I attain this object by the device illustrated in the accompanying drawings,wherein like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several views, and in which- Figurel is a front elevation of my improved implement. Fig. 2 is a similar view showing one of holders in an elevated position. Fig. 3 is a side elevation showing thepeculiar shape of the prongs.

In the drawings, A A'represent the holders upon which the material is formed. They are construoted of strips of steel wire bent into U shapes, thus forming their curved heads a at their central or bent portions and arms or prongs a' a* of their remaining portions.

Directly below the heads a of the holdersA A' depressions or indentations, as a3 at, are made in the prongs a' a2, thereby leaving the said heads a somewhat wider than the portions immediately below, for the purposes more fully hereinafter described.

The lower ends of the prongs a' a2 are bent or curved, as shown in Fig. 3, for the purpose of allowi ng the material to be easily disch arged from the holders as the lace is manufactured.

To prevent the prongs a' a2 from springing apart or from being forced together,I employ a series of clasps, B B', which have vertical slots b b' made therein, running parallel with .each other, and in which the prongs cc, a2 are placed. These clasps B B' are constructed in any desirable shape or Configuration, and are preferably made of metal. The slots b are made near the outer edges, and the slots b' are made in close proximity to each other near the center of the said clasps, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1, they being of suffioient size to admitthe prongs a' (Hand to allow a free movement of the same therein, so that the holders may be readily withdrawn therefrom with but little trouble.

By the arrangement of the slots b b' in the manner above described the prongs a' awhen inserted therein,are at all times held in apar- ,allel position, the inner prongs being in close proximity to each other. By this arrangement the holders are prevented from being forced out of horizontal alignment with each other or folded together. The clasps B B' are arranged on the upper and lower portions of theholders, as shown in Fig. 1.

The Operation of my devioe is as follows: When it is wished to make a narrow braid or edging of lace,one of the holders is drawn up somewhat above the other, leaving its lower ends in thelower clasp, as shown in Fig. 2,the prongs being thus held parallel, as before stated. The end of the thread or cord to be used is then attached to one of the prongs, and the thread is looped into any desired design or pattern with the use of an ordinary crochet-needle by passing the same over and under said holder and looping or forming stitches over or between the prongs and carrying loops over the head a, or in any other manner that may be desired to secure the design wished, the indentations as a* preventing the work from being drawn over the head a. As the work is continued the material is carried down the holder until it reaohes the clasp B, the holder being then withdrawn from said clasp and the material being allowed to work off from the curved ends of the prongs, the fabric on the holder keeping the said prongs parallel by preventing them from springing apart.

i When itis desired to make lace ofa greater Width, the holders are placed in the position shown in Fig. 1. The thread or cord to be used is secured to one of the outer prongs and then looped into different patterns with the use of a crocheting needle by looping and forming stitches between and over the prongs in any desirable manner to produce the pattern, the material riding-down and off from the curved ends of the holders,the lower elasp being removed when the material reaches the same.

By plaeing the inner prongs in close proximity to each other I am enabled to make finer stitches,and thus assistinbeautifving the work.

By the use of the elasps B B' holders construeted of fine wire may be used, thereby admitting laee of a fine texture to be formed,and by the prongs being held parallel the work is made in a more regular and uniform width than could otherwise be produced.

If desred, my improved implement may be construeted With but one holder with clasps to correspond.

It is obvous that many minor changes in the construction and arrangement of the parts of my device can be made and substituted for those shown and described without departing fromthe nature and principles of my invention.

Iam awarc that devices of a somewhat similar nature having a single U-shaped holder have heretofore been used, and this I do not broadly claim.

Having thus described my invention,what

I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a lace-making device, the combination, with a series of U -shaped holders, of the clasps B B', having slots b b' therein, in which are adapted to be placed the prongs of the holders, for the purposes specfied, substantially as described.

2. In a lace-making device,the combination, with a series of U shaped holders having ourved prongs,of a series of clasps having slots made therein, in which are adapted to be placed the prongs of said holders, for the purposes specified, substantially as described.

3. An implement for makinglace or like artieles, consisting of the holders AA', having depressions a* a, and the clasps B Bf, having parallel slots b b' made therein, said elasps adapted to be placed on said holders, thereby securing the prongs thereof in a parallel position, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my Signature in presenee of two witnesses.

L. IIUNT POST.

IVitnesses:

J No. W. WATERs, CHARLEs O. ANDERsoN. 

